District Attorney Mitch Morrissey will not pursue charges against two police officers who injured a suspect during a May shoot out in downtown Denver.
The suspect fired first so the officers were justified in shooting, Morrissey determined.
Officers Adam Foisy and Roman Yepishin responded to a call about a man wielding a semi-automatic pistol outside Tarantula’s bar near the intersection of 17th and California streets.
The suspect, Chisom Nwandilibe, 28, aimed at Yepishin and opened fire before the officers had a chance to approach him, Morrissey’s letter said.
The officers shot back, and Nwandilibe was hit in the lower right arm. The officers were not injured.
Witnesses told investigators that Nwandilibe earlier had been pointing the gun at random people on the streets, the decision letter said. Surveillance cameras showed the same thing.
His letter praised the officers’ response.
“Their willingness to confront the threat Nwandilibe presented is in the highest tradition of civilian law enforcement,” the letter said. “We are grateful neither officer was injured or killed and that Nwandilibe was not more seriously injured.”
Noelle Phillips: 303-954-1661, nphillips@denverpost.com or
